Service classes 1, 2, 3: which nail finish for which exposure
Sheltered interior, sheltered exterior, exposed exterior: the service class of the structure determines the nail finish. The VIPER finish table, with the matching families.
The principle
The service class describes how much the structure is exposed to moisture. Class 1: interior, sheltered. Class 2: sheltered exterior. Class 3: exposed exterior, open to rain and sea spray. The higher the class, the more corrosion protection the nail needs.
In the VIPER catalogue, each finish is assigned to a service class, and one colour per class is carried on the box, on the product page and on the website. The class that applies to your structure is set by its specification; the catalogue states the class each finish is intended for.
Finishes and their class
Each finish in the catalogue and its service class. The families listed are those in the catalogue; each product page gives the substrate, shank profile, diameter and lengths.
| Finish | Service class | Families in the catalogue |
|---|---|---|
| Bright | Class 1 — interior | VB8 · VBC8 · VB31 · VBC31 · VBR31 · VZ8 · VZC8 · VZR8 · VS4 · VC4 · VBP8 · VBCP8 · VBRP8 · VBP31-100L · VBP31-90C · VBP31-90T · VSP4 · VZP8 |
| Black sulphated | Class 1 — interior | VN6 |
| Electro-galvanised | Class 2 — sheltered exterior | V6-B · V6-P · VD6 · VG6 · VP · VPC · VPT · VPW19 · VPW22 · VPW25 · VPWQ25 · VPCC · VPCD12 · VPCD19 · VPCD25 · VPB · VPPW · VPST14-11 · VPST14-20 · VPST38-24 · VPST38-30 · VP8C · VP8 · VP8M · VP8MC · VP8T · VP8W25 · VP8CL · VP8CC · VP8B · VP8ST-11 · VP8ST-20 · VP8ST-32 · VPN · VPNCC · VPNP · VPH6 · VPH14 · VPH8 · VPHE6 · VPHE14 · VPHT6 · VPHT14 · VPMW · VPM · VPZ7 · VPZ8 · VPZ9 · VPZ14 · VPF · VPK · VPTB · VPJ · VPI · VBG8 · VBGC8 · VZ8-G · VBGP8 · VBGCP8 · VBGRP8 |
| Mechanically galvanised | Class 2 — sheltered exterior | VX6-B · VX6-P · VBGM8 · VBGMC8 |
| Hot-dip galvanised | Class 3 — exposed exterior | VBH8 · VBHC8 |
| Stainless steel A2 | Class 3 — exposed exterior | VPS · VPWS25 · VP8S · VZ8-I · VBIP8 · VBICP8 · VBIRP8 |
Three installation situations
A timber frame assembled under cover, beneath the roof, is class 1: a bright structural nail is enough, for example the ring-shank VBC8. Rails and hangers fastened into concrete, in a sheltered exterior, are class 2: electro-galvanised nail, V6 family. Cladding exposed to rain and sea spray is class 3: hot-dip galvanised nail, VBHC8 family.
- VBC8 — Bright ring-shank wood nail
- V6-B — Electro-galvanised concrete nail, Ballistic point
- VBHC8 — Hot-dip galvanised ring-shank wood nail
Stainless steel A2 and black sulphated
Stainless steel A2 is the catalogue's second class 3 finish. It is found on the VPS and VP8S powder-actuated nails, intended for damp or corrosive environments, on the VZ8-I roofing nail and on the VBIP8, VBICP8 and VBIRP8 pneumatic wood nails.
Black sulphated, the finish of the VN6 concrete nail, is assigned to class 1: it brings improved corrosion resistance over bright steel without changing class. To search by finish, profile, diameter and length, the reference finder filters the whole catalogue.
- VPS — Stainless steel powder-actuated nail, .300" head
- VZ8-I — Stainless steel A2 roofing nail
- VN6 — Black sulphated concrete nail
The information in this guide comes from the VIPER catalogue and the machine data sheets. Prices and availability are confirmed in the quotation, within 24 working hours.